Apparatus for ore separation



June 17 1924 1,497,804

c. SPEARMAN APPARATUS FOR ORE SEPARATION Filed Sent. 18. 1919 figgl ii w iinlhl'l Elvwuatoz CZar/m/kearman Patented June 17, 1924.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES SPEARMAN, 0F WESTMOUNT, QUTEIBEC, CANADA.

APPARATUS FOR ORE SEPARATION.

Application filed September 18, 1919. Serial No. 324,310.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES SPEARMAN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at WVestmount, in the Province of Quebec, Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Ore Separation, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the extraction or recovery of minerals from their ores and the purification of concentrates. More specifically, the invention relates to improvements in apparatus designed particularly to be utilized in the separation of minerals from their ores by the employment of selective agglomerating, stratifying, or segregating agents.

As is recognized in the art, it is desired frequently to accomplish a selective separation of desired minerals from their ores, such separation being selective either as to the kind of mineral to be taken from ore containing a plurality of minerals, as to size or quality of the mineral content desired to be taken, as to the proportion and amount of.

mineral it is desired to withdraw, and as to divers and variable factors existing by virtue of the differences between different ores, variations in an ore, and other causes and conditions. For example, in the concentration and purification of graphite and molyb denite ores it frequently occurs that these I minerals are found in association with mica or otherminerals, which other minerals are useful for some purposes-and it may be desirable to recover themor which other minerals may be usefully employed if left in association with the graphite or molybdenite, or which minerals it may be necessary to separate absolutely from the graphite or molybdenite in order to render the latter in proper condition for certain uses.

Likewise, due to variations in the richness of ores, or in variations in their refractory properties, variations in the nature,

form and amount of matrix and gangue material as well as other variations in the nature and properties of the ore, it becomes desirable to vary the treatment in the process of separation or concentration in order to operate at the highest efficiency.

Furthermore, in the utilization of surface tension or froth methods of separating desired values out of a prepared pulp it is of importance that the floated values be removed rapidly from the surface of the flotation'body, and it is also of importance that any of the desired values which may be carried below the surface of the flotation body, due to their being surrounded or held in the gangue material, be freed and permitted to seek the surface.

In a copending application #281,017 filed March 6, 1919, in which I claim a process, I have described an apparatus in which certain of the features of the apparatus constituting the subject matter of the present application are included. As to such features this application constitutes a continuation of said prior application. Moreover, in my copending application on processof ore separation, S. 317,855, filed August 16, 1919, I have described and claimed a process which may be practiced by utilization of the ap paratus constituting the subject matter of this application.

It is the general purpose of my present invention to provide an apparatus, the use of which will contribute to a high percentage of recoveries of the desired minerals, and also accomplish rapid handling of the ore, and possess large capacity. It is likewise the purpose of my invention to provide an apparatus which permits of a selectively variable treatment of the ore such as to accommodate a wide diversity of conditions in the ore and enable at all times the highest-recovery at the highest efficiency.

Another object of my invention is to provide an apparatus by virtue of which selection maybe made among the various mineral contents of ores for the recovery of a desired mineral, or desired minerals, either separately or in association.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide an apparatus by the utilization of which an early differentiation and segregation of divers mineral contents of ore and the recovery and selection of desired contents practically as soon as any segregation or artificial differentiation between the contents are accomplished.

A further object of my invention is to provide an apparatus whereby the operations of selection and extraction of a desired mineral content or contents may be carried on continuously and concomitantly with the operations of freeing, segregating and separating divers metal contents ofthe ore, and whereby asserting of the desired values as to size, weight, specific gravity or other characteristics, may be accomplished.

A further object ofmy invention is to provide an-apparatus whereby any and'all' desired values may be extracted from oresin a single handling of the material.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved apparatus useful narticularly for the recovery of graphite, mo-

lybdenite and other mineralsfrom-graphite and molybdenite ores.

Other and further objects of myinveir-i tion will be'obvious" or pointed out herein and in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying" drawings forming a part 'of this application.

I will describe my improved apparatus as utilized in the separation or concentrati'01120f such ores as graphite ore or molybdenite'ore, but'it will be understood that the apparatus is designed for other uses and on 1 other ores which are various both 1 as to kind and form, and that the invention'may beembodied in an apparatus differingziir various particulars and-degrees from that herein disclosed,

Described generally, my invention comprises a pulp handling device having a wall nozzles, by force of which constituents of thepulp may be lifted out of or oil of'the mass. The invention contemplates also a pulp handling device infwhich the pulp supporting wall is pei'vious to fluid eithergaseous or liquichwhich may be discharged through the wall into the pulp supported thereon so as to produce a working of the pulp and a freeing of the desired constituents so that the latter under the combined influence of the fluid percolating through the pulp and the suction induced through theseparating devices, may be readily separated-out of and off of the pulp and removed from association therewith. The invention contemplates also'tha-t there may be a -plurality of these selecting devices adjustable relative to the pulp supporting wall so that the pulp stream transmitted over the latter may be brought under their respective influences at different times and periods during. the process of segregation or agglomeration. in the pulp stream, so that there maybe accomplished a classifying selection of the desired: values;

The invention contemplates, moreover, the employment of a selecting device operating by pneumatic suction in association with a launching device and a flotation body in such fashion that the values separated out of the pulp by the flotation body and sustained on the surface thereof may be rapidly lifted therefrom, so that the capacity of the flotation body is greatly augmented and it is enabled to take care of: the increased volume of pulp supplied to it 'by the pulphandling device of myimprovedconstruction. To further. assist in the ef fectiveness of the suction device associated with theflotation body, I provide means for injecting gaseous fluid in such relationship to the flotation body and the concentrates supported'thereon as to form a suction or stratum of gas between the'flotation :body and the supported concentrates. By such means the tension upon the'flotation, body is relieved to a degree, and the withdrawal 7 of the concentrates by-the suction device assisted.

The invention will be understood more specifically by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a largely diagrammatic view of one-form of my improved apparatus.

Figure 2 represents a fragmentary detail in the'nature of a part top or-plan viewiof the pulp supporting wall.

Figure 3 is a detail in the nature ofan elevational section illustrating'the association of pulp handling device, flotation body and selecting device.

Figure 4t is a-detail. view-illustratinganotherembodiment of this feature ofthe invention; and I Figure 5 is a detail in the natnreof a fragmentary top-view of a pulp arresting or lifting device. 7 M

Reference'being had to these drawings by means of the reference charactersapplied, it will be understood that the numeral 1 designates generally a mixing or reducing ma* chine in which ore reduced to a proper mesh may be mixed-with certain characterizing or: differentiating agents whereby discrete particles of like mineral may be endowed with characteristics tending to causetheir: agglomeration informative masses, or! their stratification separate from particles of other material, thus accomplishing a. segregation of different mineral contentsuin the ore. lVhere the apparatus is employed in a process of separation by the surface tension method orby flotation, it is to be understood that a characterizing agent is-employed which has apreferential afiinity for the desired mineral content of theore, and at the same tim vis non-assiinilating OI"1II1- miscible with the liquid which is utilizedvto provide the flotationbody. Such a method of treatment may consist of wetting the oreslightly, introducing the slightly moistened ore into a grinding mixture of oil and water and then agitating the ore and launching same onto the surface of a flotation body, said agitation being accomplished by disseminat-ed gases being introduced into the ore through the wall of the launcher. From the device 1 the ore is discharged in the form of a pulp or in comminuted form upon a launder 2, from which it is advanced to a distributing device 4. In association with the distributing device 4 is arranged a pulp handling device 5. This device may be constructed in accordance with the description in my copending application on pulp handling device. It may include a lower wall 6, side walls 7, and a pulp handling wall 8, said walls being combined in such fashion as to provide a receptacle into which fluid, either gaseous or liquid, or both, may be introduced by conduits 9, said receptacle being adapted also for adjustable support in association with a suitable flotation body 10.

As illustrated, the pulp supporting wall 8 of the pulp handling device may be formed in the fashion of a succession of steps or stages 8 so that the pulp on the device may be transmitted from one stage on to the next. This progressive movement of the pulp or ore over the pulp supporting wall may be accomplished by gravity, when the pulp supporting wall is inclined, or may be accomplished by the force of streams of fluid emitted through the apertures such as those indicated at 11, in the pulp supporting wall. Other apertures, such as those indicated at 12 (Fig. 3)} may be provided in the pulp supporting wall for the purpose of permitting the egression of fluid from the interior of the pulp handling device into the pulp supported on the wall 8. It will be understood that the fluid thus injected into the pulp will have the effect of working or enlivening it insuch manner as to contribute to the freeing of the particles of the desired contents of the ore from other material in the pulp, and permitting the segregation of the differently characterized contents into different strata, and the agglomeration of ,the discrete particles which are endowed with that capacity; Adjustably associated with the pulp handling wall 8 are one or more selecting or removin devices, designated by numerals 14, 14. and 1 1. Said selecting or removing devices may be in the form of suction nozzles as shown, having communication with conduits 15. Suction through the nozzles and conduits may be induced by suitable means such as the fans 16. In the device illustrated the nozzles are rendered adjustabl by means of telescoping joints, but, of course, other expedient-s may be utilized for this purpose. In the form illustrated itis seen that the remo ing devices 14: and 14 are associated with portions of the wall 8 above the surface of the flotation body 10, and that the nozzle 14 is associated with the surface of the flotation body and with a portion of the wall 8 which is submerged below the flotation body.

The several stages of the pulp handling device may be equipped with the apertured separating members after the fashion disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application on pulp handling device, and shown for the purpose of illustration in Fig. 2 herein. It will be sufficient for the present purpose to explain that in the construction referred to, one or more of the stages 8 are provided with the apertured terminal separating members 8 which may be in the form of a foraminous plate, or a member of comb-- like or serrated form, disposed at the forward limit of the stage in posit-ion such as to receive the stream of pulp from the stage. These separating members 8 are disposed overhanging the next adjacent stage so that pulp is transmitted from them on to such next stage in the progressive movement of the pulp stream. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 it may be desirable to associate the nozzles 14 and 1% with certain of the separating members 8, the adj ustability of the nozzles permitting any desired positioning relative to the separating members.

The arrangement of the nozzle 14 which is associated with the flotation body is such as to permit its withdrawing from the surface of the flotation body material separated out 0fv the pulp by surface tension separation or by flotation on the flotation liquid. The position of the nozzle, therefore, is such as to permit the movement of material on the surface of the flotation liquid into the nozzle. In the form illustrated in Fig. 3 the forward wall of the nozzle extends down to or into the flotation liquid, and forms a dam for arresting the movement of the material rafted over the surface of the flotation liquid, and for detaining it in a location where the suction induced through the nozzle will be effective upon it. In the form illus trated in Fig. 4: a grating or foraminous member 17 is adjustably supported on or adjacent the nozzle and adapted to project into the flotation liquid in such fashion that it lies in the path of the material floated upon the liquid from the pulp handling de vice, and operates to guide such material to the effective zone of the nozzle.

A fragmentary top view of one form of the foraminous member 17 is shown in Fig. 5, wherein it is seen it is provided with apertures such as to permit the passage through it of the unagglon'ierated material which sinks in the flotation liquid.

As will be seen in Figs. 1, and 3, the lower or forward extremity of the pulp supporting wall extends into the flotation liquid in such manner that a wedge-shaped portion of the liquid extends over and above it as at 18. The apparatus above described has the capacity of functioning upon a properly prepared pulp, as referred to above, in the following fashion:

The pulp being properly prepared and distributed upon the pulp handling device the pulp, due to the passage of the fluid through it from the apertures 11 and 12,.

and due also to the undulating of the pulp in passing from stage to stage. This workmg or enlivening of the pulp has the effect of permitting the difi'erently characterizeddiscrete particles to segregate themselves into distinct strata, by virtue oflthe characteristics which they naturally posses or the cl'iaracteristics with which they have been endowed in the preparation of the pulp. lVhere agglomerating agents have been utilized in the preparation ofthe pulp-for the characterizing of one or more of the de sired constituents, this working of the pulp will operate to free the particles from the pulp mass, permit their moving into juxtaposition and agglomerating into formative masses.

In the eventthe l'n'eparation of a pulp is designed to produce a froth forming mixture, as maybe desired inthe separation of metallic or metalliferous ores, this working of the pulp overthc stepped surface and the injectionof gaseous fluid thereinto will produce a surface stratum of froth effective to carry the particles ofthe desired values. Because OftllO fact thatthe apparatus handles the pulp in the form of a thin sheet orribbon this froth is quickly and easily produced, without the expenditureof power now required. This working of the pulp is further contributed to by the separating members 8, when present, whichoperate to retain for a period the formative masses of the agglomerated constituents while permitting the more fluid and smaller unagglomerated content of the pulp to pass through the slots or apertures; As stated, this handling of the pulp produces a segregation of the difl'erentiated constituents, the agglon'ierated or froth carried materials occupying the stratum at thesurface-of the pulp stream. The progressive movement of the pulp stream carries the material in this stratified form into the zones of effectiveness of the respective nozzles 14 and 14: successively. The suction induced in the said nozzles will be effective to withdraw the desired materials from the surface of the pulp,

and to carry them to a proper place of dis posa-l,

The formative masses into which the discrete particles coalesce through the capacity given them by the agglomerating agent with which they are filmed, are buoyant, and have spongy, plastic, elastic and fiocculent properties,and thus come the agglomerated minerals to have a lower specific gravity than the gangue in which they are found, and therefore when'moved to the top of a stratum of gangue it will have a tendency to remain there until removed. These properties contribute to the ability of the suction device to remove the agglomerated masses from the-surface of the pulp. In this actionthe suction nozzles are aided by the means for injecting gaseous fluid'into the pulp, as the air which is forced into the pulp through the apertures 12 of the pulp supporting wall, after percolating up through the more or 'less fluid under-strata in the pulp, reaches the more coherent elastic and plastic agglomerated stratum at the top, and tends to define more sharplythe line of'cleavage between the agglomerated stratum and the portion of the pulp upon which itrests, thus aiding in the removal of the agglomerated values. Moreover, the presence of this mobile gas below the agglomerated masses contributes in part to the establishing of a definite current-into the suction nozzle, by which current the movement of the agglomerated.

material is accomplished.

In the course o'lt-its continued progressive movement the pulp stream is directed to the flotation body. As seen in Fig. 3, the portion ofthe flotation body forming the water wedge 18 tends to extend upwardly in the down-coming pulp andassists in separating or splittingiofl the desired stratum, or the values endowed with the nomassimilatin'g or flotative capacity, from the tailings' or reject-materials which are. filmed or'saturated withthe agent which is assimilating with the flotation liquid.- The material which is characterized by a non-assimilating film is' moved into the operat ve zone of the nozzle 14, by which it is liftedor withdrawn by suction from the surface of the flotation body, while the tailings continue to travel down the surface of the pulp supporting wall below the flotation. body and are discharged'at the forward or lower terminus of the pulp handling device. This separation by surface tension or flotation may be utilized as a final. operation of the device to recover the modicum of the desired content remaining in the pulp after the submission of the pulp to the operation of'the withdrawing members 14 and 14. Or this separation on the flotation liquid may be the sole separation operation in the employment of the device. It has been explained above how the forward portion of the nozzle in Fig. 3 and ,the members 17 in Fig. 4: operate to limit surface of the flotation body and the concentrates supported thereon, thus contributing to the function of the nozzle in lifting the concentrates from the surface of the flotation body, and rendering such withdrawal of the concentrates more facile and complete. This lifting elfect upon the floating values by the gas injected beneath them and the pneumatic suction from the nozzle tends to relieve the strain upon the surface film of the flotation body, and also contributes to the very rapid removal of the concentrates from the flotation body so that the latter is not over-loaded by the rapid discharge of pulp from the pulp handling device.

From the foregoing description of certain functions in this apparatus it will be seen that the device contributes to rapid handling of the prepared pulp, whereby the apparatus possesses a great capacity. It is to be observed also that it produces such thorough. working of the pulp as to permit the withdrawal of the entire desired content at a single handling, the several selecting devices 14, 14 and 14? becoming eflective upon the progressively moving pulp stream at different periods, one after the other, whereby the values freed and segregated or agglomerated in the pulp stream during its movement from one to the next of said selecting devices, are immediately removed. The device in this fashion provides a means whereby a classified separation of the concentrates from the pulp may be made, thus eliminating the necessity of further handling of the concentrates for the purpose of such classification. .7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An apparatus for use in concentrating ores and the like and comprising a container for a flotation liquid, a launching device having a pervious launching member adapted to extend within said container in such manner that a portion of the flotation liquid extends over the lower end of the launching member as a wedge-shaped cross-section, means to supply gas under pressure beneath said member whereby minute streams of gas are caused to percolate upwardly through said member and through the wedge-shaped cross-section of the flotation liquid, and a suction device having the intake thereof effective adjacent the place at which the concentrates are launched upon the flotation liquid and having a portion comprising a dam to limit the travel of the concentrates, on the flotation liquid.

2. In an apparatus for concentrating ores, in combination, means for preparing a pulp by differentially filming the values and reject material, a pulp supporting wall arranged for the progressive movement of pulp thereover, and removing devices operating through pneumatic suction and adjustable toward and from said wall and effective at different zones spaced apart in th direction of the movement of the pulp.

3. In an apparatus for concentrating ores, in combination, means for differentially filming the Values and reject material, a pulp supporting wall arranged for the progressive movement of pul thereon, said wall being formed to procuce a working of the pulp in its progressive movement, means associated with said wall for effecting the percolation of a upwardly pulp moving thereon, and suction devices disposed in association with said wall for removing by suction portions of the pulp in the course of its progressive movement over a selected portion of the wall.

4:. A device for concentrating ores, in combination, means for differentially filming the values and reject material, a pulp supporting wall arranged for the progressive movement of pulp thereon, said wall including devices whereby a working of the pulp is accomplished in the course of its progressive movement, means associated with said'wall for injecting fluid into pulp thereon during its progressive movement, and suction devices associated with said wall for th removal of pulp therefrom in restricted zones, said suction devices being spaced apart in the direction of the pulps progressive movement.

5. In a device for concentrating ores, in combination, means for differentially filming the values and reject material, a pulp supporting wall arranged for the progressive movement of pulp thereon, said wall including devices whereby a working of the pulp is accomplished in th course of its progressive movement, means associated with said wall for injecting fluid into pulp thereon during its progressive movement, and suction devices associated with said wall for the removal of pulp therefrom, said suction devices being selectively adjustable relative to the wall and to each other to vary their zones of removal.

6. In a device for concentrating ores, the combination of means for differentially filming the values and reject material, a pulp supporting wall forming a series of spaced one on to another "thereof, an apertured separating member disposed to receive pulp from one stage and deliver it to the next, and suction devices associated with the apertured separating member exclusively andeffective to remove portions of pulp therefrom.

7 In an apparatus for concentrating ores, in combination, means for differentially filming the values and reject material, a pulp supporting wall arranged in the form of a plurality of stepped stages with serrated margins disposed in position to deliver pulp in progressive movement from one to another thereof and suction operating means associated with said wall for removing portions of the pulp therefrom,

8. In an apparatus for concentrating ores in combination, means -for diii'erentially filming the values and reject material, a pulp supporting wall. arranged in the form of a plurality of stepped stages disposed in position .to deliver pulp in progi" serve move ment from one to another thereof and plurality of devices each effective separately upon ,a different stage for removing portions of the pulp therefrom.

9. In an apparatus for concentrating ores, in combination, means for differentially filming the values and reject material, a pulp supporting wall arrangei'l in the form of a plurality of stepped stages disposed in position to deliver pulp in progressive movement from one to another thereof and a plurality of devices each associated with a different stage and adjustable toward and from the same and effective to remove portions of pulp therefrom.

10. In an apparatus for concentrating ores, in combination, means for differentially filming the values and reject material, a pulp supporting wall arranged in the form of plurality of stepped stages disposed in of a plurality of stepped stages disposed in position to deliver pulp in progressive movement from one to another thereof and a device adjustable for association selectively with said stages and operable effectively to remove portions of pulp theretrom.

12. In a-napparatus for concentratingores,

in combination, means for differentially filming the values and reject material, .a pulp supporting wall arranged .in the form of a plurality of stepped stages disposed in position to deliver pulp in pmgressive movement from one to another thereof and a plurality of suction operated devices associated with said stages and eifective to remove portions of pulp therefrom adjustable to vary their zones of effectiveness.

13. An apparatus for concentrating ores comprising in combination a flotation body, means for artificial-1y difi'erentiating different components of the ore with reference to the flotation body, a launching device associated with the flotation body and said lastmentioned means and having a pulp supporting wall arranged above the flotation body and constructed to accomplish manipulation of pulp and its progressive movement to the flotation body fromsaid'last mentioned means, and selectively operable :means cooperatively associated with said pulp supporting wall and the .surfaceof the flotation body and operated by suction to accomplish withdrawal of portions of pulp from said wall and said surface.

CHARLES SPEARMAN. 

